Orientation - General:
- Is orientation mandatory to attend CU-Boulder?
Yes!
Advising:
-
Who is my advisor?
You
will be assigned to an advisor depending on your major. If you haven’t
chosen a major, then you will be assigned to an Open Option advisor.
-
Will an advisor tell me what to register for? Or register for me?
While
advisors may help you understand your requirements and help you choose
classes each semester, they are more like a coach than a counselor.
They are there to help you utilize resources, make informed decisions
and become independent life-long learners.
Registration/Scheduling:
- When do I register?
During your orientation session, you will receive information about how to build your schedule. You will also have time with an advisor, both in a small group meeting and a one-on-one meeting. After these meetings, you will register for classes on your own.
- What can I do if I don’t know my AP or IB scores yet?
Make a list of all the AP or IB exams that you took. Write down any of the scores you have already received. Be sure to let your orientation advisor know about any and all exams you have taken. We will do our best to help you register for classes at orientation, but realize you may need to make some changes to your schedule if your scores don’t come in the way you thought they would.
- How do I find out about my transfer credit?
Step 1 - Be sure you have asked for official transcripts (after all grades have been posted) and test scores to be sent directly to CU Admissions.
Step 2 - Once you have confirmed your orientation session, your received transcripts will be prioritized for review.
Step 3 - Discuss your transfer courses (both posted and pending) with your Orientation Advisor. They will help you plan a schedule with your transfer work in mind.
Step 4 - After the semester is under way, check your Degree Audit. If you have questions about how you transfer courses fit in to your degree plan, make an appointment with your Advisor.
- Can I take music lessons, like voice or guitar, for credit?
Yes, but those courses are generally offered through the Division of Continuing Education and carry a separate (additional) tuition.
- Does CU offer evening courses?
Yes. Credit courses are offered through the Division of Continuing Education and carry a separate (additional) tuition. Evening courses are calculated as part of the CU Grade Point Average. Generally speaking, we don’t encourage students to take both day and evening courses simultaneously but they can be a good option for students who are unable to take day classes.
- How many classes should I take?
Most incoming CU-Boulder students take between 12 and 16 credits. Depending on your major, you may want to be closer to 12 to make sure you get off on the right foot. 12-16 credits will most likely be 4-5 classes but it could be fewer than that if you are taking classes that have more credits (like a 5-credit language class or a 5-credit calculus class).
- I know which classes I want to take; can I register now?
No, all new students register during their orientation session. Besides, after you meet with and talk to an advisor, you may get some other ideas.
- I have no idea which classes to take! Who’s going to tell me what to do?
You will have total control over which courses you choose to take. Your orientation advisor will help you narrow your options down to a few introductory courses in your major(s) of interest and will teach you about our general education (Core) requirements, but you will take that new knowledge and select appropriate courses from what sounds most interesting and is available.
- Do I have to take English and Math every semester?
No. Every degree program at CU-Boulder has specific requirements. You might take only one Math course in your four years (depending on your major). Everyone will take writing, but there are lots of ways to meet your Core requirements. Your orientation advisor will help you find the choices that fit your interests.
- My Mom and Dad help me a lot. Can they help me register for my classes?
Your family members may accompany you to orientation, but there are several sessions designed just for parents and family members. Your parents can help you by supporting your decisions and letting you begin to make connections with the professionals on campus, like your advisors, that will be here all year long to help you.
Major:
- Can I change my major at orientation? If so, how?
Yes, you may change your major at orientation. If you know that you want to change majors when you check in the first morning, you may request a change at that point. If you decide during the course of the orientation session that you want to change your major, you may go to Woodbury 109, the Arts and Sciences advising office, to request the change. If you change your mind once the semester begins, then you will need to attend a meeting in that department.
- Can I declare a second major or a minor at orientation? If so how?
No, each student can declare one major during orientation. Once the semester is underway, you may then declare a second major or minor. Go to the Academic Advising Center website to get information about how to declare the major or minor you want.
Degree Requirements:
- How long do I have to complete my Core requirements?
Most students work on their Core requirements for the majority of their career at CU-Boulder. There are several requirements that must wait until you are in your last two years. Most advisors would tell you that a balance between Core and major requirements as well as electives is the best way to build a schedule. For those of you who are Open Option students, Core is a great way to explore different majors.
Placement Exams:
- Do I have to take the foreign language placement?
If you didn’t take three years of the same foreign language in high school, then you will need to fulfill the Core requirement for foreign language once you get to CU-Boulder. If you want to continue with that same language, you will need to take the placement test before coming to orientation for most languages. Follow the instructions in your orientation materials for how to access those tests.
A second reason why you may need to take the placement test is if you are planning on majoring in something that requires college-level language as part of the major requirements. You may want to continue the language you took in high school and would need the placement test in order to get into the right level here at CU-Boulder.
Other College/School:
- I want to get into Business or Engineering. Can I take Business or Engineering courses?
You can not take courses in the College of Engineering or College of Business until you have been admitted into that college but you are able to take specific courses in the College of Arts & Sciences that will enable you to transfer into those colleges. In most cases these pre-requisite courses are actually Arts & Sciences courses that serve as a foundation to requirements in other colleges. For Business, you can access Micro Economics, Macro Economics, Finite Math and Calculus. For Engineering, you can access Calculus 1, Calculus 2, General Chemistry and Calculus-Based Physics. Enrollment in these courses depends on previous academic preparation.
- How do I declare a major in a college other than Arts and Sciences?
Unlike Arts & Sciences majors, which you can declare at any time, you can’t simply declare a major in another college. You must complete coursework, meeting a minimum required GPA, and then apply to that other college.